Let's look on the bright side........

I think it’s hoped the N2 will return to the NNR after it’s overhaul

 

Is the plan to still go mainline with the N2? Well as far as Cromer?

 

I believe so.

 

From what I’ve read elsewhere a lot of money was spent installing equipment to enable the N2 to venture to Cromer, but unfortunately it never made it out on the mainline before its overhaul.

 

I can't vouch for the order of things nor whether 2021 will be their year of return to service given the time we're seeing but there's also 6024, 34028, 45025 and 6880 all worthy of a shout

 

It'll be the Bluebell's 60+1th birthday (unless things go horribly wrong again, in which case - 2022 will be the 60+2th ...

Tom

 

I suspect railways are conserving cash against the uncertainties ahead, and Covid-19 has interrupted project fundraising. The SVR, for example, announced a while back it was putting back work on a couple of viaducts and both its plans for Bridgnorth station and fundraising for MPD improvements will be later than envisaged.

I hope some lines will still be able to achieve things in 2021.

Patrick

 

The other projects which are being shelved/ koved back down the pecking order also applies to carriages. 9615/ 43612/ 24068/ 16267 are all coaches that need an awful lot of work but wifh budget constraints. We are picking off light work ie. Doors, windows and repaints rather than large 6 month projects. We never get the opportunity to repaint our TSOs because they are always in use. The upside of Covid is we can now rattle through some of the previously heavy used coaches.

 

I think it is actually very impressive that just about all the heritage railways have survived 2020 and most have seen trains running again. There are several that have quietly continued with their expansion/improvement projects.
Many locomotives have been worked on, with some major overhauls being completed. Several "New builds" have made significant progress. Carriages have been overhauled and repainted on many lines. Goods wagons on many railways are looking better than ever.
Congratulations to all involved, whether wielding spanners/paint brushes or supporting with donations/good wishes.
Have a Happy 2021!

 

I've just been looking at the Hatton's website and their forthcoming 4/6 wheel carriages - an N2 with a short rake is suggested as a suitable suburban. Myself, I'd like to find a model of a C12 (GNR C2) to run with a few as a recreation of a Ramsey North branch passenger train.

 

"2021 will see The Duke's overhaul completed and our locomotive back on the mainline come the autumn", so say the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust: https://www.facebook.com/71000Loco/posts/199179415251927

 

That is the outcome of the enormous generousity and (financial) donation from all the supporters of these railways. Just look at the amount that many of them have recieved! It`s so impressive and something you brits can be proud of in such difficult times! I really admire you for this!

Knut

 

Whilst I hate to give credit to Government I think that it must also be recognised that a huge amount of funding has been received from government bodies, be it furlough schemes or grants, especially in England.

It has been a pain not being able to operate as normal this year or volunteer as normal, even if that is only helping water or weed a few plants for a few hours on one day. Staff being furloughed and volunteers not being able to work as normal will have put projects back but I don't think it should be all doom and gloom, especially on the cash front. With donations, grants and furlough schemes it may be that many railways are not much worse of financially than they would be if there had been no restrictions. I expect some may be better off especially in England where the Government funding was much more generous than in Wales. I am not sure about Scotland.

In Wales the bigger you are the harder you have been hit as the maximum Government contribution I think was £150,000. Several railways in England have had over a £million. Whilst £150,000 is not to be sniffed at that does not go that far on the FR/WHR compared with say the Bala Lake Railway who if you review their website have had decent passenger figures since they re-opened. I am not picking on the Bala Lake Railway just that both they and the FR announced they received the maximum £150,000 from the Welsh Government and I don't think I am being unfair to suggest the scale of their operations are markedly different. The FR obviously would have been able to benefit more from furlough schemes and donations with a larger supporter space.

I will be interested to see accounts for this year when they are published, and I am sure there will be a wide range of results, but depending on what happens 2021 I am hopeful that for many it is only a case of projects being put back a year or whilst railways preserved cash and volunteers and staff could not work rather then projects having to be shelved. I appreciate there will always be exceptions.

 

I guess it shows how much more can be done when your staff aren't busy running trains and dealing with visitors. Of course there are limits to how much can be done before running out of money. . . and then it's back to playing running trains to generate income.

 

Not forgetting that many pre-booked passengers have generously donated their fares rather than demand refunds. And these passengers are not necessarily 'enthusiasts' but ordinary 'Joe Public'.